Cup having illusion of emptying contents

ABSTRACT

A novelty cup having a transparent upper section for holding liquid contents and an opaque hollow base which is connected to the upper section through a flow passageway normally blocked by a valve. By unobtrusive manipulation of the upper portion relative to the base, the valve is opened to permit gravity flow of the fluid from the transparent section to the reservoir in the base to create the illusion that the upper portion is being emptied of its contents.

United State'sPatent" i 1 [in 3,733,071 Levin 5] Mag 51 51 1973 [54] CUP HAVING ILLUSION OF 3,202,423 8/1965 Becker ...272 s N EMPTYING CONTENTS 3,250,531 5/1966 Convertine ..272/8N [76] Inventor: Maxine G. Levin, Westhill Drive, FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Gates Mills, Ohio 44040 [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 281,468

[52] U.S. Cl. ..2'72/8 R, 35/23 R, 161/8 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63j 5/00, A47g 33/00 [58] Field of Search ..272/8 R, 8 N, 27 R, 272/27 N; 40/l06.21;46/1 D, 141; 35/23 R; 161/8 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES'PATENTS 412,396 10/1889 Larkin ..2l5/1.5 1,030,859 v 7/1912 Anagnostou...; ..272/8 R 1,692,938 11/1928 Jacobs ..46/1 D 2,039,373 5/1936 Wittmann ..46/1 D 436,502 10/1935 Great Britain ..46/1 D Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner R. T. Stoufler Attorneyls1er & Ornstein [57] ABSTRACT A novelty cup having a transparent upper section for holding liquid contents and an opaque hollow base which is connected to the upper section through a flow passageway normally blocked by a valve. By unobtrusive manipulation of the upper portion relative to the base, the valve is opened to permit gravity flow of the fluid from the transparent section to the reservoir in the base to create the illusion that the upper portion is being emptied of its contents.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 CUP HAVING ILLUSION OF EMPTYING CONTENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a novelty or amusement device whichis particularly intended for use in the ritual celebration of holidays or festivals, such as the Passover festival, in which traditionally a cup of wine is set aside for the Prophet Elijah, who supposedly partakes thereof. The cup herein disclosed provides a means of giving an illusion of reality to the ritual of the Elijah cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive goblet or cup having a fluid reservoir base into which the contents of the goblet or cup can be discharged unobtrusively by a simple manipulation of the stem of the cup.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a cup or goblet embodying the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same, taken as indicated on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the vent portion of the base and showing the valve in its open position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified valve arrangement for the cup, the open position of the valve being shown in phantom outline.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, thereis shown a suitably formed and artistically designed cup or goblet, generally indicated by the reference character 10, which has a liquid receptacle portion 11 surmounting a base 12.

The receptacle 11 is formed in the shape of a wine goblet or the like and is made of transparent material such as glass or, preferably, a transparent synthetic resin, sov that its contents are clearly visible. The base 12, upon which the receptacle 11 is mounted, is made of opaque material and is suitably contoured to be complementary to the design of the receptacle 11. The base 12 is hollow to provide a liquid reservoir or cavity 13 whose volume or capacity is greater than that of the receptacle 11. At its upper end or neck portion, the base is provided with an apertured disk element 14 having one or more flow openings 15 provided therethrough. A suitable sealing ring 16, such as an O-ring or the like, is mounted in the upper surface of the disk 14 so as to project upwardly therefrom as well as to sur round and isolate the flow opening or openings 15.

Centered on the disk 14 in contact with the sealing ring 16 is a valve element 17 having a disk-like lower portion 18 whose planar surface normally engages the sealing ring 16. The valve element is provided with an upwardly extending central boss 19 which aids in adhesively bonding or otherwise affixing the valve element to the end of a hollow stem 20 which depends from the receptacle portion 11 and forms a flow passageway between the receptacle and the base 12.

The stem 20 extends downwardly through a cap 21 which is provided with a central aperture 22 to permit 'slidable axial displacement of the stem relatively to the cap. A sealing element 23, in the form of an O-ring or the like, serves to seal the exterior of the stem against fluid leakage from the interior of the cap. The cap 21 is adhesively bonded or otherwise affixed to the top of the base 12.

A compression coil spring 24 within the cap 21 biases the valve element 17 downwardly relatively to the base 12 and yieldably maintains the valve element in sealing engagement with the sealing element 16 of the base so as to effectively block any gravity flow of liquid between the receptacle and the base.

One or more radially extending discharge ports or openings 25 are provided in the stem 20 at a location slightly above the juncture of the valve element 17 to the stem, to permit the free flow of liquid from the interior of the stem to the exterior of the stem within the confines of the interior of the cap 21. The cap 21 is opaque and serves to conceal the apertured portion of the stem 20 as well as the valve means 14 and 17, so that none of these elements are visible from the exterior of the cup or goblet 10.

With the receptacle l1 filled with colored water, wine, fruit juice or other suitable liquid, a small amount of the liquid will be permitted to flow into the interior of the cap 21 through the discharge openings 25 in the stem. However, with the flow passageway into the base 12 sealed by abutment of the valve element 17 with the sealing ring 16, as shown in FIG. 2, none of this liquid will flow into the base. By displacing the stem 20 of the receptacle 11 axially upwardly to a very small extent, the valve element 17 is elevated from its sealing engagement with the sealing ring 16 so that liquid can flow through the opening 15 into the cavity 13 of the base. The extent of the displacement of the stem will meter or control the rapidity with which this flow occurs and the receptacle 11 is emptied. Inasmuch as in holding a goblet or wine cup, it is normal for the hand to envelope and grasp the goblet, this manipulation of the stem of the cup to open the valve can be accomplished unobtrusively and will not be apparent to observers.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, the valve means is shown in an open position, such as would exist when the stem is displaced slightly upwardly to cause the illusion of the emptying of the contents of the receptacle 1 1. Also shown in FIG. 3 are one or more air vents 26 which are provided in the body of the base 12 to permit the air displaced by the incoming liquid to be vented to atmosphere from the cavity 13. It is obviously desirable that none of the liquid be carried out through the vent 26, either through air entrapment or if the goblet is tilted to a drinking posture. It has been found that simply providing an opening in the wall of the base 12 causes spitting" through entrapment of the liquid with the air being vented and also can permit a trickle leakage of the liquid from the base when the goblet is tipped excessively. To overcome these problems and disadvantages, the vent 26 is provided with two coaxial passageways of different diameters. The smaller of these passageways 27 leads from the exterior of the base and is of a diameter which is sufiiciently small so that the surface tension of the liquid in relation to the size of the passageway will prevent free flow of the liquid therethrough. The passageway 28, which is of larger diameter, can be coaxial with the passageway 27 and be of a diameter approximately two times greater than that of the passageway 27. It is exposed to the interior of the base 12 and is adequate to direct the exhausting of the air through the smaller passageway 27. For example, using colored water as the liquid, the air vent 26 can have a vent passageway 27 having a diameter'of onesixteenth inch and a vent passageway 28 having a diameter of one-eighth inch, and the surface tension of the water will be great enough to minimize the discharge of the water through the smaller passageway either as a result of air entrapment or as a result of tilting of the base. As previously indicated, one or more of the air vents 26 may be utilized, depending upon the liquid capacity of the device and the maximum rate at which the illusion of emptying is to be accomplished.

Once the receptacle 11 has been emptied of its contents and has served the purpose for which it is intended, it is set aside for actual emptying of the liquid from the base at a later time, if the illusion is not to be revealed. Some time later, the base can be emptied by inverting the cup and again opening the valve by displacement of the stem to cause the liquid to flow out through the stem and the receptacle 11. However, emptying of the device after each use is not necessarily required, if the liquid capacity of the base of the device is made sufficiently great so as to accomodate two or possibly three discharges of liquid from the receptacle 1 1.

In FIG. 4 is shown a modified form of the device utilizing a slightly different valve means. In this modified form of the device, the cap 210 is made of an elastomeric material such as a flexible synthetic resin or the like and is not only affixed to the base 12 but is also adhesively bonded or otherwise affixed to the hollow stem 20 adjacent the lower end thereof. The previously described discharge ports or openings 25 in the stem are eliminated and, instead, a central discharge opening 29 is provided through the valve element 17. The disk 14 of the base 12 is provided with a plurality of flow openings 15 arranged in concentric relationship to the central opening 29, and the previously described sealing ring 16 may be omitted, if desired. If it is utilized, it is placed between the central aperture 29 and the concentric openings 15.

The flexible or resilient characteristic of the modified cap 21a eliminates the need for the previously described compression coil spring 24. Instead, in assembling the device, the cap 21a is affixed to the base 12 in a stressed condition so that it normally and yieldably maintains the coplanar faces of the disk 14 and the valve disk 18 in sealing abutment with each other, as illustrated. Therefore, the discharge passageway 29 is blocked by the central portion of the disk 14 so that no fluid can flow from the receptacle 11 to the interior 13 of the base. If the stem 20 is axially displaced upwardly to a slight extent in opposition to the cap 21a, the abutting surfaces of the elements 14 and 18 are separated so that the liquid can flow from the receptacle 11 through the stem 20 and discharge passageway 29 into the cavity of the base 12 through the now open flow passages 15. This direction of displacement is the same as that previously described with reference to FIGS. l-3.

Instead of displacing the stem axially upwardly, the valve means can be opened by exerting a lateral displacement pressure on the stem 20, transverse to its longitudinal axis, to cause the valve element 17 to rock along a portion of its circumference to provide a fulcrum for elevation of another portion of its circumference, thus exposing and opening the passageways 15 to liquid flow as indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 4. By using the modified form of cap 210, it is possible to open the valve by manipulation of the stem either laterally or axially. As in the previously described form of the device, when the displacement of the stem is relieved, the resilient means, either the cap 21a or the previously described coil spring 24 returns the valve element 17 to its sealing position.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cup having a transparent upper receptacle for holding liquid contents, an opaque hollow base, a hollow stem projecting downwardly from said receptacle toward said base to provide a gravity flow passageway therebetween, a fluid-tight cap connecting said stem to said base, said stem being mounted for predetermined positional displacement relative to said base, valve means concealed within said cap for normally sealing said flow passageway, said valve means being responsive to said predetermined positional displacement of said stem relative to said base to open said flow passageway, and means provided in said base for venting air therefrom in response to flow of the liquid contents of said receptacle into said base, whereby to create the illusion of said cup being emptied of liquid.

2. A cup as defined in claim 1, including yieldable means maintaining said valve means in said normal sealing position, and said predetermined displacement of said stem being in opposition to said yieldable means.

3. A cup as defined in claim 2, wherein said base has at least one liquid inlet opening therein, said valve means comprises a valve element affixed to said stem in overlying relationship to said inlet opening, and said yieldable means bias said valve element into sealing engagement with said inlet opening.

4. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein axial upward displacement of said stem in opposition to said yieldable means opens said flow passageway.

5. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein lateral displacement of said stem in opposition to said yieldable means opens said flow passageway.

6. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein said yieldable means is a spring.

7. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein said cap provides a flexible portion which is pre-stressed to serve as said yieldable means.

8. A cup as defined in claim 6, wherein said stem slidably traverses said cap axially thereof.

9. A cup as defined in claim 7, wherein said stem axially traverses said cap and is affixed thereto.

10. A cup as defined in claim 8, wherein said valve element is elevated from said sealing position in response to axial displacement of said stem in opposition to said spring.

passageways of different diameters, the smaller of said passageways traversing the exterior of the wall and being of a diameter sufficiently small to prevent the gravity flow of liquid therethrough, and the larger of said passageways having a diameter at least twice that of the smaller. 

1. A cup having a transparent upper receptacle for holding liquid contents, an opaque hollow base, a hollow stem projecting downwardly from said receptacle toward said base to provide a gravity flow passageway therebetween, a fluid-tight cap connecting said stem to said base, said stem being mounted for predetermined positional displacement relative to said base, valve means concealed within said cap for normally sealing said flow passageway, said valve means being responsive to said predetermined positional displacement of said stem relative to said base to open said flow passageway, and means provided in said base for venting air therefrom in response to flow of the liquid contents of said receptacle into said base, whereby to create the illusion of said cup being emptied of liquid.
 2. A cup as defined in claim 1, including yieldable means maintaining said valve means in said normal sealing position, and said predetermined displacement of said stem being in opposition to said yieldable means.
 3. A cup as defined in claim 2, wherein said base has at least one liquid inlet opening therein, said valve means comprises a valve element affixed to said stem in overlying relationship to said inlet opening, and said yieldable means bias said valve element into sealing engagement with said inlet opening.
 4. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein axial upward displacement of said stem in opposition to said yieldable means opens said flow passageway.
 5. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein lateral displacement of said stem in opposition to said yieldable means opens said flow passageway.
 6. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein said yieldable means is a spring.
 7. A cup as defined in claim 3, wherein said cap provides a flexible portion which is pre-stressed to serve as said yieldable means.
 8. A cup as defined in claim 6, wherein said stem slidably traverses said cap axially thereof.
 9. A cup as defined in claim 7, wherein said stem axially traverses said cap and is affixed thereto.
 10. A cup as defined in claim 8, wherein said valve element is elevated from said sealing position in response to axial displacement of said stem in opposition to said spring.
 11. A cup as defined in claim 9, wherein said valve element is elevated from said sealing position in response to displacement of said stem in opposition to said flexible cap portion.
 12. A cup as defined in claim 1, wherein said venting means comprises a vent opening traversing the wall of said base, said vent opening providing two coaxial flow passageways of different diameters, the smaller of said passageways traversing the exterior of the wall and being of a diameter sufficiently small to prevent the gravity flow of liquid therethrough, and the larger of said passageways having a diameter at least twice that of the smaller. 